Tiny Circuits in a Tin Can

These little circuits fit neatly into mini Altoid mint tins.  Two of the circuits make use of a buzzer, while the one in the middle simply lights a small LED.  This is a great way to get kids learning how to build simple circuits using just a few components. I purchase the coin cell batteries, two to a pack, at the Dollar Tree.

Breadboarded circuits in Altoid mint tins.

Breadboarded circuits in Altoid mint tins.

My Colorful Robotic Arm

While browsing YouTube, I found this simple project for making a robotic arm. I used some colorful Popsicle sticks I had at school. The kinders think it’s pretty neat because I use it to grab their noses when they walk by my desk. I love the mechanics of this project, no motor or wires, but pretty cool.

Robotic arm made from Popsicle sticks.

Robotic arm made from Popsicle sticks.

Vibrating, Red-Eyed Bot.

I recently built these two tiny robots from coin cell batteries.  I love the coin cell battery holders because they let me solder a permanent connection to the pager motor.  My red-eyed bot actually has a switch, which I salvaged from some old electronics.  Some “helping hands” and a magnifying glass made the soldering fairly simple. This robot was made possible after viewing “How to Make a Mini Bug Robot.”

Coin cell robot with glowing red eyes.

Coin cell robot with glowing red eyes.

“Lenny”, shown below, is made from electronic components I salvaged from a variety of e-waste items.  His body is built from a pcb once inside a kid’s calculator. While Lenny lacks a switch, he makes up for it in character.

botman2

Coin cell robot with vibration motor.